I have been running into this problem lately and I need to vent.  Why do
some hospitals send every b/f mom home with a breast pump.  I have had
contacts with moms who told me their new babies wanted to eat every 2
hours and so the moms thought they weren't producing enough milk, (they
didn't think to count the diapers!).  So they tried pumping their breasts
with the nifty "free" breastpump that was sent home with them from the
hospital.  Guess what! they could only pump about 1/2 ounce and they were
convinced that they weren't producing enough milk and that was why their
babies wanted to nurse every 2 hours(or less).  So they started using abm
and finally call me to get help for engorgement.
IMHO giving a pump to every b/f  mom leaving the hospital is telling her
what?  That every b/f mom needs or should be using a pump? and for what
reason?  On the surface it may appear like a good idea, "instead of
formula we give them a breastpump to take home" but aren't we still in
some way undermining the mom's trust in breastfeeding?  I hope I am
making some sense here, it's been a long day--too many phone calls for
a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Barbara Redinger, LLLL, IBCLC